(NAPSI)—A seafood-rich diet offers major health benefits. Federal
Dietary Guidelines recommend two to three servings of seafood a week but
fewer than one in five Americans heed that suggestion. Between concern over mercury levels, environmental protection and
the benefits of farmed vs. wild-caught fish, many consumers find selecting
seafood anything but simple.

The good news is you can get seafood that’s safe, sustainable—and
delicious. Follow these 10 tips to make informed choices.

1. Quality is key.
Select fish that smells clean and briny, free of any fishy or sour odor. When
choosing a fillet, flesh should be bright and firm. That
goes for the outside, too—look for shiny skin and scales.

3. Check labels. Look for
endorsements from reputable organizations such as MontereyBay’s
Seafood Watch, Ocean Wise, Marine Stewardship Council and Fair Trade
Certified. These guarantee that the seafood has been raised or caught sustainably with minimal environmental impact and using
fair labor practices.

4. Avoid mercury. In this case,
lower on the food chain is better. Salmon, cod and haddock are all
FDA-approved selections low in mercury.

5. Fish should be additive free.
Fish that is free of antibiotics, GMOs and added
hormones offer a healthier option than conventionally raised seafood.

6. Choose responsibly farmed.
Sustainable aquaculture reduces overfishing and the
depletion of wild fish stocks and uses a fraction of the resources required
to produce other animal proteins. When raised responsibly, farmed seafood is
an environmentally friendly alternative to wild-caught fish and other types
of meat such as beef or chicken. Choose sustainably
farmed fish approved by third-party regulatory organizations.

7. Omega-3s, please. One of
seafood’s most prized health benefits is its high omega-3 fatty acid
content, an essential component of good health. Salmon, mackerel and sardines
are among many options rich in heart- and brain-boosting omega-3s.

9. Go beyond fish. Fish is not
the only seafood option. Shellfish such as mussels, oysters and clams can be
farmed sustainably and offer the health benefits
found in other seafood.

10. Say no to bycatch.
Avoid unintentional harm of other animals by choosing fish that’s
either farmed or caught with eco-friendly equipment. When choosing wild, look
for fish that is pole-and-line or troll caught—that means it was fished
one at a time instead of in nets that indiscriminately trap other marine
life.

Blue Circle Foods offers responsibly farmed and fished seafood you can
trust. The company is at the forefront of sustainable seafood, and its
products are 100 percent traceable; free of GMOs,
added hormones and antibiotics; and are sourced using fair labor practices.
Plus, it partners with reputable third-party organizations to source products
that are better for you and for the environment.